Aussie history maker hails 'special' Beijing experience

For skeleton racer Jackie Narracott, the reality of her achievements at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics still hasn't fully sunk in.

By securing silver at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre, Narracott became the first Australian to ever win a medal in any Olympic sliding sport, which also includes bobsleigh, monobob and luge.

"It's still sinking in what it means in regard to Aussie sports history," Narracott told Xinhua from her hometown of Brisbane, Queensland, where she is taking a well-earned rest before returning to Britain in March.

Recounting her experiences in the mountains around Beijing last month, she said it evoked an intoxicating blend of emotions, ranging from serenity to exhilaration.

"We were there during Chinese New Year, so they tried to make it a bit special. And the food was delicious," she said. "They did a great job."

Narracott attributes at least part of her Olympic success to the Yanqing track, which is known by locals as the "Snow Dragon".

The "very smooth and flowy" course with its long stretches and open curves is in a "class of its own", said Narracott, who hit speeds in excess of 130 kilometers per hour.

She was also greatly impressed by the venue's indoor warm-up area, saying it was the best on the international circuit.

Much of Narracott's achievements, however, are due to the sort of traits she shares with many elite athletes.

Throughout the past decade, the 31-year-old has drawn on her reserves of perseverance and self-belief as she competed against the world's best in South Korea, Europe and the UK.

Her career has had plenty of twists and turns, including suffering a concussion in 2019 that required six months' recovery.

Through it all, Narracott, supported by her husband and coach Dom Parsons, soldiered on, finally being rewarded in January when she became the first Australian skeleton rider to ever top the podium at an International Bobsleigh&Skeleton Federation World Cup meet.

Despite that recent triumph at St. Moritz in Switzerland, many observers underestimated Narracott's Olympic chances, instead predicting European powerhouses such as the Netherlands, Germany and Austria would dominate.

Explaining her winning mindset, Narracott said it was vital to have a completely clear mind when competing in the lightning-fast event.

"You need to focus on what you are feeling, not thinking, in the moment," she said.

"The more you think about it, the tighter you get, and the longer it takes to process things. That split second can be the difference between first and last, or even hitting a wall."

Narracott refused to reveal whether or not she will make a third Olympic appearance at the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, saying she hasn't thought that far ahead.

Having suffered three concussions, she said she would like "to leave the sport healthy".

"If that means I get to Milan, brilliant. If it means that I have to call up a little bit sooner than that, then we'll see. But for now, everything's feeling good."

Xinhua